Oprah's Book Club (Official) discussion

Quote:
"I hear everything now: the kitten's shallow breathing, the men bending over the ditch, the cars whooshing by, the tree branches crackling in the woods, the tires against the road, the birds tweeting, the sandpaper sound of the air against my skin, the grass blowing, my labored breathing. All of it rushes at me, horribly articulated. I put out my hand to steady myself against the onslaught."

Oprah's note:
I love that crazy Cassie, and you can sense that the author has had firsthand experience of mental illness with someone. She's been in there, dealt with it somehow.

I love the way the eyes of Cassie's current thought is expressed in relation to her current reality. The mental health storyline whether based on a bit of fact or fiction- gives insight into the struggle a persons mind can go through. Cassie's thoughts are detailed, colourful, gentle, frighten, has movement, story layers, feelings and emotions- to say the least. She is an unwell person. Person. Her character description equates with one who is a human being. I feel that the author, Ayana Mathis is trying to move mountains with this chapter. I am interested in what comes next. So, here I go.......

I started reading this just to see what an Oprah group was like.The first chapter is beautifully written and moving -- the mother, alone and very young, with her dying babies. Let's hope the rest of the book can maintain this mesmerizing drama....

When I read about Cassie I thought that maybe the voices in her head may have started out as imaginary friends. I'm assuming the order in which the chapters were laid out was the order in which each child was born. Her mother had so many other kids to worry about and if she is the last one, she probably got the least amount of attention from her mother as her older siblings were more than likely given the task of taking care of babies. So then these imaginary friends manifested themselves into something more as she grew older.

I thought it was cool how even though Cassie struggles with mental issues and what appears to be different personalities she still finds herself with the fact that she has a daughter to protect....

Annie wrote: "I thought it was cool how even though Cassie struggles with mental issues and what appears to be different personalities she still finds herself with the fact that she has a daughter to protect...."

Hi Annie,

Your comment gave me a new realization and insight........Cassie's mind never loses her motherly instinct to protect her daughter, even in the midst of her mental illness. Love this thought of yours. So very true. Interesting what thoughts Ayana Mathis chooses to have escaped the grip of mental breakdown. Thanks. -Melissa

Lorrea(Threein3) wrote: "When I read about Cassie I thought that maybe the voices in her head may have started out as imaginary friends. I'm assuming the order in which the chapters were laid out was the order in which ea..."

Interesting point on the imaginary friends. I think that's a good way to look at what happened to her. It would have been very hard to be the youngest (if she was the youngest) of twelve with most of your siblings being adults and having a mother like Hattie, who probably lacked all affection by that point. Easy to see how Cassie would have been the one to mentally slip from reality.

melissa~ ur welcome!!! it was amazing to me how she always had in mind to "protect" her daughter.. it was something that stood out to me.

When ifinished the chapter , Cassie actually brought tears to my eyes . My brother is paranoid schizophrenic so I fully related to Cassie and Sala was my family. Its so hard and its harder for anyone to "get it "if they never experienced anyone with a mental illness .. Im so glad Hattie got thru her hardship and is learning to love . Sala needs all the love she can get

"Cassie" was my favorite chapter. To see how well developed the character was within so few pages just shows how talented Ms. Mathis is. I applaud her for undertaking such complex characters with such diverse issues. My heart broke for Cassie and to watch Hattie suffer through each of her children's heartbreaks.

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